Page 3 of Ranger's Rise
Chapter One
One week
Ranger
Pres and VP walk in and I stand. “Pres, VP.”
“Ranger,” Pres says and sits. I’ve seen Hade following him around and look to see if he follows them in.
“He’s in Ops,” VP says, sitting in the other chair in front of my desk.
Since they’re sitting, I do. “You’re on the list being considered for Officer. We need military and educated Brothers for that. You’re both. I want an Officer for Chopper Training and Ops. You put together the military advisers for the procedure manual and got it done in a week. That position would be an Ops Lead. Are you confident and comfortable enough here to take the position?” Pres shocks the hell out of me.
I thought I was being considered for second tier Officer. It’s a year of service at less than Officer salary. Since my training hours bring me up to what I made in Michigan, it wasn’t a problem. I’m not living in the Club and not paying for board. Money hasn’t ever been an issue, but the respect of being equal to my Brothers is. “Yeah. I ran Aerial for the MC. I don’t know your procedures in Ops but won’t have a problem learning them. I’m honored to be offered the job. I expected to work up to it.”
Pres smiles. “Raid talked to your old President and the new Lead. You’ve got the experience and were an Officer there, even ran Ops for the Council. Nothing but good came back on you. You’ll be working with Hade. He’s Lead Enforcer Ops. Is that going to be a problem?”
I smile. Since VP is, I don’t think I’ll take flak from it. “No. He apologized and you’re fine. You don’t seem to be pissed at him, so I’m good.” The Brothers are another story, but it’s not mine.
Pres laughs. “I recently told some Presidents that they needed Brothers that were protective of them and their Clubs. I’m glad to see it. Hade isn’t a heavy drinker. He fucked-up and knows it. I’m giving him shit, but it’s more for the Brothers than me. They’re still pissed.” He swings his head. “I don’t get why he was drinking in the first place. He says he’s been done with Freedom and can’t get past her being dangerous or some shit. Whatever it is, he’s my personal assistant when he’s not on a shift so I’m good with it. He does run the room when he’s on.”
I wave it away. “I’m good, Pres. I’ve worked with him in training before the Club shit happened and didn’t have a problem. Military is a little different than the MC and civilian life. Orders and procedures are orders and procedures. It’s easy when you know the job.”
VP laughs. “You wrote it, making that easier.”
Smiling, I agree. “Yeah.”
Pres stands. “I’ll have just yours and a Mason’s cut in for Church Sunday. We ride for breakfast at eight from my house then go to Church. Second tier will get their cuts next week. You’re in Security meetings, Raid will send you the schedule. We need crews. Brothers from Badass are showing now that they heard we’ll be training flight crews. I swear someone is sending invitations. I just decided this shit. I don’t know how it gets out so fast.” He’s disgusted.
I laugh. “Word of mouth. Tank, I mean Mounty, called me about the training job.” I walk around the desk.
He nods and hugs me as I knew he would. “We’re honored and relieved you’re taking the job, Brother. It’s not one I know or have done. I’m glad you got the manual done even with the meeting delayed to later.”
“Thanks, Pres, VP. It wasn’t a problem. VP emailed me first thing so I changed the plan to meet with him later. We had quite a bit done before we did meet so it worked.”
VP looks from the mountain scene on the wall back at me. “Any of those advisers want in?”
I had three and Mounty two. “Shultz may, but the others like what they’re doing. I asked before they left. I don’t know if Mounty asked.”
He looks at Pres. “Shultz is the one that’s fanatical about maintenance?” Pres asks.
“Yeah, Pres. He likes everything checked and logged after every flight. It’s a military thing. He’s been out for almost a year.”
“Offer him a boot camp. I liked him. He was calling the Brothers, ‘Brother’ before he left.”
I nod smiling. “He was. He’s still here. Today he’s looking for a place. He likes the town. Military have a hard time finding their place with civilians.”
Pres looks concerned. “PTSD?”
“No. Just living in the city. It’s weird when you come back, we’re used to living in a predominantly male world. That’s why so many Brothers are military. The MC is easy.”
“Huh, I never put that together. We send them to the military, but I didn’t think about the changes they go through.”
I nod and smile. “You probably didn’t see it because it’s predominantly male here too.”
Now he’s nodding. “Huh. The shit I learn.”
They’re off and I sit thinking about the shit he learns. I like that he’s open to learning from everyone. He was right in with us wanting to know the what and why for each procedure. He’s a smart Brother and I’m glad we didn’t have to break it all down to newbie level. He was looking for the reasoning. Once I got that, we went through everything pretty quick.
